UNLV guard suspended ahead of Mountain West tournament

UNLV Rebels guard Keshon Gilbert (10) shoots a three-pointer from the corner throughout the 2nd half of an NCAA college basketball game versus the Dayton Flyers at the Thomas & & Mack Center on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2022, in Las Vegas. (Ellen Schmidt/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @ellenschmidttt
The Mountain West males's basketball competition hasn't even begun, however UNLV and coach Kevin Kruger are currently shorthanded.

Sophomore guard Keshon Gilbert has been suspended one video game by the Mountain West for breaching sportsmanship conduct policies throughout the event which caused his ejection during UNLV's regular-season ending overtime win against UNR March 4.

" We comprehend everyone has a role and will have to step up," fifth-year point guard Jordan McCabe stated. We rely on in our ability to play together.

Gilbert's absence means UNLV, the No. 7 seed in the Mountain West, will not have the services of its starting point guard when it takes on No. 10 Air Force at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday in the first round of the conference competition at the Thomas & & Mack.

UNLV (18-12) won the only conference in between the teams Feb. 24 at the Thomas & & Mack Center, after a tip-in by fifth-year guard EJ Harkless beat the buzzer to secure the 54-53 triumph.

" There's a great deal of things we believed we could've done much better the very first time around versus Air Force, but we gutted out a win," McCabe stated. "For us to do that gives us self-confidence."

Gilbert was ejected early in the very first half versus UNR after a confrontation with Wolf Pack wing Tre Coleman. The players came in person during a blockage in play with 14:23 staying in the duration.

After exchanging words, Gilbert stroked his head toward Coleman and appears to make very little contact. He was right away ejected.

His lack will definitely have an influence on UNLV. Gilbert played in all 30 of UNLV's video games, starting 29. He was 2nd on the group in scoring, balancing 11.5 points per video game, and his 96 helps this season likewise ranked 2nd on the Rebels.

UNLV does have a knowledgeable replacement for Gilbert in McCabe. The former West Virginia guard began 31 games for the Rebels throughout the 2021-22 season.

Regardless of moving into a reserve role, McCabe is balancing 5.5 points per video game in about 18 minutes per video game this season. For context, he scored 6.4 points in around thirty minutes per video game throughout his very first season with the Rebels. He's also shooting more efficiently, specifically from 3 where he's making 42 percent of his attempts.

For McCabe, the opportunity to step back into a significant function before his college career ends is exhilarating. He understands any opportunity to extend his time on the court will require the Rebels to win 4 games in 4 days to make the NCAA Tournament.

" There's a huge sense of seriousness entering into this competition," he said.

While McCabe will likely see a bump in minutes to change Gilbert, walk-on senior guard Cameron Burist is another gamer who may figure into the rotation versus Air Force. The Las Vegas native and Liberty alum played 10 minutes against UNR after Gilbert's ejection, and Kruger praised his contributions after the video game.

Burist stated he's invested the previous couple of practices concentrating on defense, preparing for Air Force's player-movement heavy scheme. The senior likewise stated Gilbert has actually been assisting prepare him for Wednesday's video game.

" We hate that (Gilbert) can't be with us," Burist said. "But we're constantly next male up. Our company believe in each other."

Contact reporter Andy Yamashita at [email protected]. Follow @ANYamashita on Twitter.

Up next:

Who: No. 7 UNLV (18-12) vs. No. 10 Air Force (14-17).

When: 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Where: Thomas & & Mack Center.

TV: Mountain West Network.

Radio: KWWN (1100 AM/100.9 FM).

Harkless earns All-MW honors.

UNLV fifth-year guard EJ Harkless was named a second-team All-Mountain West choice by the coaches poll Tuesday, a day after he made the exact same honor from the media survey.

Harkless is balancing 20.7 points, 3.2 assists, and 5.4 rebounds for the Rebels considering that conference play started. He when again missed out on out on winning Mountain West Newcomer of the Year as the coaches picked UNR guard Jarod Lucas. The media selected New Mexico forward Morris Udeze for the award.

The coaches named San Jose State guard Omari Moore as gamer of the year, SJSU coach Tim Miles as coach of the year, San Diego State center Nathan Mensah as protective player of the year, Utah State forward Dan Akin as sixth male of the year and UNR forward and previous Bishop Gorman star Darrion Williams as freshman of the year.

Moore, Boise State forward Tyson Degenhart, Colorado State guard Isaiah Stevens, New Mexico guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., SDSU guard Matt Bradley and USU guard Steven Ashworth were named first-team All-Mountain West by the coaches.